Corys that stay small ?

[Flyfisher]

Hi,
can anyone offer suggestions for a small cory to add to a 2ft community tank. I've seen Pygmy corys but wonder if anyone can suggest something small and pretty. It's for my 6 year old daughters tank you see
Thanks.

[Richard B]

Cory habrosus, hastatus, pygmaeus or any of the aspidoras would fit the bill in terms of size

[Carp37]

Whilst I know a couple of people that successfully keep Aspidoras without particularly assiduous husbandry, they are supposed to be more sensitive to water quality than most species of Corydoras, which would make me a bit nervous about putting them in such a small community tank. Richard's suggestions of hastatus (not often seen- they do come in sometimes, but normally what shops import as hastatus turn out to be pygmaeus) and habrosus are good- they're both small, sociable, pretty corys.

[Richard B]

Whilst I know a couple of people that successfully keep Aspidoras without particularly assiduous husbandry, they are supposed to be more sensitive to water quality than most species of Corydoras, which would make me a bit nervous about putting them in such a small community tank.

Agreed - it was only included to demonstrate there are more callichthyds than just corys, but in hindsight i wouldn't recommend for a beginner

There are a lot more corys that stay small but i only included the best known - pygmaeus & habrosus are the best bet as these are readily available & inexpensive.

Do you not think pygmaeus are pretty?

[Carp37]

Do you not think pygmaeus are pretty?

I'm not sure if you're directing that at the original poster or me Richard- I left it out because the OP seemed underwhelmed with them. I think they're a pretty but frustrating cory- put them on their own with lots of cover and they hide and sulk, but put a dither fish in there like black-bellied limias or endlers and they're happy and active all day, but I suspect the dither fish will eat their eggs so I don't know if mine ever spawn.

I also think they're relatively delicate- 10 of my 12 survived their first year (the other 2 didn't last a week), but I lost 4 in the second year and am now down to 4 after 2.5 years- despite the fact that Ian Fuller suggests that they're at least as long-lived as other corys.

Between the 2 species, I think hastatus is the prettier.

[Richard B]

Do you not think pygmaeus are pretty?

I'm not sure if you're directing that at the original poster or me Richard- I left it out because the OP seemed underwhelmed with them. I think they're a pretty but frustrating cory- put them on their own with lots of cover and they hide and sulk, but put a dither fish in there like black-bellied limias or endlers and they're happy and active all day, but I suspect the dither fish will eat their eggs so I don't know if mine ever spawn.

I also think they're relatively delicate- 10 of my 12 survived their first year (the other 2 didn't last a week), but I lost 4 in the second year and am now down to 4 after 2.5 years- despite the fact that Ian Fuller suggests that they're at least as long-lived as other corys.

Between the 2 species, I think hastatus is the prettier.

It was aimed at the OP - i think they're a super little fish & very 'pretty'. I agree Hastatus is the best looking of the 3 but not often as available as habrosus & pygmaeus.

I recently got 10 Pygmaeus to go in a shrimp tank & i don't see them sulk at all despite there not being much exposed substrate & no dithers. I also use the tank for establishing anubias etc on rocks/wood so the bottom is pretty much covered. I did remove all the decor briefly to rearrange & squeeze a couple more plants in & they seemed to enjoy the additional substrate space but are active & all over the tank in groups of 3 or 4 rather than shoaling together now the plants are back in - highly recommended

[MatsP]

Hi,
can anyone offer suggestions for a small cory to add to a 2ft community tank. I've seen Pygmy corys but wonder if anyone can suggest something small and pretty. It's for my 6 year old daughters tank you see
Thanks.

What else is in the tank, and what temperature do you keep it at?

If the tank isn't very heavily stocked and kept 25'C+, then I'd go for some C. sterbai. They don't grow massive (around 5-6cm/2-2.5"), and are very pretty in my opinion. Or C. similis, again not massive, but not a dwarf species either.

--
Mats

[mummymonkey]

C. panada stay quite small and are available in most stores.

[MatsP]

C. panada stay quite small and are available in most stores.

Likes cooler temps, but yes, looks pretty [subjective of course] and stays small.

--
Mats

[Flyfisher]

Thanks gents, that's given me a few to look out for. It will always come down to whatever she thinks is prettiest but hey that's what it's all about. Appealing to the eye of ones personal tastes. And she's 6
Tank sounds overstocked but we have 2 clown loach that came with the tank and have lived in there for 10 years! Not surprisingly, they've only reached about 3 to 3.5 inches and even though they're living a happier life now, I can't see them growing much at this late stage in life. I have told her that if they do, we must pass them on to someone with a larger tank though. We were given the tank by a neighbour, who when I asked what lived in it, I was told 3 clown loaches, a few rainbows, 2 gouramis and a small plec. I dreadto think of the life these fish have lived but all that was in that manky half filled tank of soup and dead vegetation was the 2 loaches and the 2 gourami. I gave the gourami away and she added her 4 danios and a small clown plec. Tank is at 24 degrees and is now looking lovely planted with lots of hiding places and a few small pieces of bogwood. The tank needs corys, but it definitely doesn't have room for sterbais, hence looking toward the wee fellas. I too think sterbais are one of the prettiest corys
cheers.

[Carp37]

Hi- Id be very nervous about keeping any cory with clown loach, even if theyre small (sorry missing apostrophes because it wont let me put them in for some reason!)- loaches are much pushier than corys.

[RickE]

Hi- Id be very nervous about keeping any cory with clown loach, even if theyre small (sorry missing apostrophes because it wont let me put them in for some reason!)- loaches are much pushier than corys.

I have 3 sterbai and 5 clown loach together. I bought the clown loach at atound 1-1.5" and they are now 3-4" (yes, I know they will get a LOT bigger!) . The sterbai have no problem with them and quite happily muscle their way to the food. They're like little tanks really. The other thing with the sterbai is that they are constantly busy whereas the clown loach just have occassional feeding sessions.

[Richard B]

have lived in there for 10 years!

&

I can't see them growing much at this late stage in life.

This is not very old for a clown loach - there used to be a guy in Coventry back in the 80's (Martyn Themwell [Thelwell?] i think his name was) with an 8x3x3 tank with just Clowns in. His smallest was about 7", the biggest was about double that & he reckoned that one was 40+ years old (he'd had it 26 years). These type of loaches like a lot of catfish are quite long lived creatures.

On the point of mixing clown loach & corys - well its not something i'd recommend personally. I know a lot of people who have no problems at all but conversely i know of some who have had some real disappointments - clown loach are well equipped to look after themselves if they need to or to be aggressors, corys on the other hand are not.

[RickE]

.. clown loach are well equipped to look after themselves if they need to or to be aggressors, corys on the other hand are not.

Maybe I have it to come yet.

On the other hand, I wonder if it's because mine grew up together. When they were all small, they often formed a shoal of eight. They don't really do that now they are bigger but I haven't seen the slightest sign of aggression yet.

[Mod edit: Fix quotes --Mats]

[bamboosticks]

Corydoras Napoensis?? and those in the elegans complex

[MatsP]

This is a list of species that grow up to 45mm SL and suitable for 24'C.

You can make your own list using:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/search.php
You enter "Callichtyidae" in the family, and some size and temp values that match what you want. Just bear in mind that the more difference between min and max of temp and pH, the fewer fish you'll get.

--
Mats

[Flyfisher]

Thanks again guys, and cheers for the list Mats, there's quite a few potentials but pygmys and hastatus would be my favourites. I suppose she could go for a few oto instead. I know she likes the corys though, she's watched my Peru orange stripes alot. They've grown loads!
Think I ll give them a try with the loaches, so far they're just like soft puppies. They come out and play and cuddle alot. I have a feeling in this tank there's loads of little places they'd struggle to get to so the corys could have their own feeding grounds if need be.
Cheers.